Electronic Means for Detecting Buffered Main Shaft Seal Wear or Failure in a Turbine Engine

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a gas turbine engine is provided having a bearing chamber leak detection system. The gas turbine engine includes a rotatable shaft, a bearing assembly supporting the rotatable shaft, and a plurality of bearing chamber seals surrounding the rotatable shaft creating an annular bearing chamber enclosing the bearing assembly. One or more walls substantially surrounding the bearing chamber create a plenum between the walls and the bearing chamber, and a pressurized air inlet to the plenum is provided. The pressurized air inlet includes an airflow sensor configured and positioned to sense a flow of pressurized air into the plenum, such that airflow at the sensor is indicative of airflow from the plenum into the bearing chamber via one or more of the plurality of bearing chamber seals.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]The present disclosure relates to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, relates to early detection of main shaft seal wear or failure.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]The main shaft in a gas turbine engine is supported by one or more sets of bearings. While these bearings must be lubricated to ensure continuous and efficient operation of the engine, it is also desirable to minimize the extent to which the bearing chamber may leak lubricant. Not only can leaked lubricant potentially contaminate nearby systems, but undetected leakage can also eventually lead to engine failure or damage. In addition to oil leakage, any leakage of high-temperature air into the bearing chamber could severely damage the bearings and compromise engine operation.[0003]Bearing chamber pressurization is often used in gas turbine engines (including ground based generator and derivatives thereof) to improve the effectiveness of the bearing chamber seals to maintain ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a gas turbine engine with a bearing chamber leak detection system. The system includes a plenum between the bearing chamber and the surrounding walls, and a sensor to measure the airflow from the plenum into the chamber. The method involves measuring the flow of pressurized air into the chamber and comparing it to an expected value to detect any leaks in the chamber seals. This can prevent damage to the engine caused by unnoticed leaks and allow for timely repairs. The controller can also execute steps to measure the flow of pressurized air and compare it to an expected value to detect any leaks.

Problems solved by technology

A leak is determined to exist when the measured flow of pressurized air exceeds an expected flow of pressurized air.

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